"This morning, yesterday or last week?" Headley replied. "It seems like I'm learning something new every day, every at-bat. You never stop learning."

Welcome to Baseball 101.

Sunday marked the second-month anniversary of Headley's long-awaited arrival from Triple-A Portland. Over those two months, Headley has hit .263 with eight homers and 21 RBI with a .333 on-base percentage.

Upside: He can put a charge into the ball, has played slightly better than expected in left although he lacks a quality outfielder's range and recently has shown a selective eye at the plate.

Downside: He has struck out 54 times in 190 at-bats, or 28 percent of the time.

Grade: Incomplete.

"This game is a pendulum," Headley said. "You adjust, they adjust. I don't think you can ever stop learning.

"I was just talking to Michael Barrett yesterday on the mental approach of keeping yourself ready in between at-bats."

Interestingly, this season has already split into several segments for Headley.

Between the time he was called up and the All-Star break, the 24-year-old switch-hitter batted .280 with three doubles, six homers and 13 RBI. But he also went 88 at-bats before he drew his first walk.

In the two weeks immediately after the All-Star break, Headley went 9-for-52 with no homers and two RBI as his average slipped to .235. But he also averaged a walk every other game.

Recently, Headley has hit safely in 10 of the past 11 games, going 15-for-41 (.366) with four doubles, two homers and six RBI to raise his average 28 points. He has also drawn seven walks to boost his on-base percentage to .333.

"Right after the All-Star break, pitchers started trying to get me out inside," Headley said. "They were pitching me inside and off the plate and I saw was swinging.

"Then I started laying off that pitch and started walking. I started not swinging at balls."

"I think Chase has a good head for baseball," Padres manager Bud Black said Sunday. "A baseball awareness.

"By his second or third week here, you sensed he was a young player trying to do too much. He expanded his zone a little bit. The way he is adjusting is a good sign.

"A track record and character are usually strong indicators that someone can be successful. Chase has both."

Headley says an important component of his adjustments this season was the two weeks he spent with the Padres in June 2007 -- even though he was only 4-for-18.

"Last year made the transition easier," he said. "It was like a primer. I was able to see what these guys do every day. It's a whole different level of dedication and involvement.

"In Triple-A, hitters and pitchers might know each other. But up here, they are picking each other apart. They were changing things on me within a week of me getting here this time. It's a constant adjustment.

"Pitchers work on you. They've had time to watch and see what I do."

Headley said he enjoys the mental repartee.

"The biggest thing is to get into a routine that keeps you consistent with a solid platform. Some guys are so talented that they can get away without that. But I've got to have a plan."

Plan mind you, not expectations.

"I'm pretty good about not worrying about what I'm going to do or making projections or expectations. If I do what I can do, I'll be OK."